A criminal conviction shouldn’t weigh heavier than a skillset, and it’s time for major companies to enforce better assessments of qualifications. Amazon.com Inc and The Gap are facing proposed class-action lawsuits for allegedly violating the New York state law that prohibits employers from denying jobs based on an individual’s criminal record. Plaintiff Genevieve Suarez claims that Amazon and The Gap disqualified both potential and current employees for having a criminal record while failing to address how these convictions could impact performance.

The New York law states that a criminal charge is not a disqualifying factor for job applicants unless there is a direct relationship between the conviction and the job itself, with the exception of violent criminal charges. Suarez was convicted of welfare fraud in 2017, a misdemeanor charge that arguably lacks correlation to her positions under review at Amazon and The Gap. Both companies failed to conduct individualized inquiries and fired workers for no other reason than their criminal charges.

Suarez claims that The Gap employed her then fired her several weeks later upon discovering her 2017 misdemeanor conviction. She also said that Amazon conducted a background check and failed to consider her for multiple positions within the corporation—a clear violation of the New York state law. Amazon was accused of disproportionately firing Black and Latino drivers with criminal records last year, and in 2018 they were accused of conducting background checks that violated federal law. Although Amazon denied any unlawful activity, it’s safe to assume that the corporation needs to reevaluate its job qualifications and put an end to discriminatory hiring practices.

If you feel like you’ve been discriminated against because of your criminal record, our record-clearing professionals at Easy Expunctions can wipe your record clean without emptying your pockets. Give us a call at (866) 775-9983, or visit our website at EasyExpunctions.com to learn more about our lawyer-free expunction packages.

Good news for those struggling to find work: The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) have announced the Hiring Initiative to Reimagine Equity (HIRE), a multi-year effort to expand employment access to workers from predominantly underrepresented communities.

HIRE vows to implement a host of methods to help provide access to meaningful jobs. The effort promises to build on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by identifying ways to remove hiring barriers for minorities. The EEOC’s official website promises that HIRE will do the following:
Host convenings to examine organizational policy and practices to reimagine equity and expand opportunity in hiring.
Identify strategies to remove unnecessary barriers to hiring, and to promote effective, job-related hiring and recruitment practices to cultivate a diverse pool of qualified workers.
Promote equity in the use of tech-based hiring systems.
Develop resources to promote adoption of innovative and evidence-based recruiting and hiring practices that advance equity.
In a roundtable half on January 19th, OFCCP Federal Contract Compliance Programs Director Jenny R. Yang announced the motivation behind the new initiative:

“The nation’s economy continues to add jobs, but we know that many people are still struggling to find quality employment while many employers are reassessing their recruitment and hiring practices to find the talent they need. Together with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, we will engage with innovative employer and worker efforts to identify actionable strategies to remove barriers to hiring to unlock our nation’s full talent.”

It’s no secret that minorities face more hiring barriers, and that the wealth of hiring challenges traps these communities in a vicious cycle of poverty. We can’t wait to see what becomes of HIRE and how it helps the nation’s minority communities find more employment opportunities.

If you can’t find work and you suspect it’s because of your criminal record, know that we understand the struggle. We can help by identifying records that are eligible for expunction using our record-clearing software. Get in touch with us to learn more about how we can give you the second chance you need to succeed!

Indiana is currently working on a bill, HB 1214, which would significantly help those denied housing due to past eviction records. HB 1214 would allow people to request expunctions for eviction filings in situations where the case was dismissed, the judgement ended up in their favor, or the landlord took no action within 180 days of the filing.

HB 1214 is an essential step for so many because a case where a tenant has an eviction filing that never came to fruition can hurt just as much as a case where someone was fully evicted. This can cause landlords to pass up on potential tenants who didn’t deserve eviction filings on their records. Why should tenants still be punished when they win an eviction case?

We know that stable housing is absolutely necessary to succeed in life, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made it more difficult for those who struggle under harsh economic conditions. Prosperity Indiana policy director Andrew Bradley noted that since the beginning of the pandemic, over 91,000 calls have been made to the Indiana 211 hotline about housing needs. He also noted:

“It’s been a huge issue throughout COVID when nearly one in 10 renter households has seen an eviction filing against them since the pandemic started. And this issue of ‘the Scarlet E’ that continues to follow families and prevent them from getting into stable housing.”

The bill passed through the house by a unanimous 89-0 vote and now heads to the Senate for review.

If you have difficulty because of eviction or other criminal records, we can help. Sign up for a free background report from EasyExpunctions.com to see If we can scrub your record’s eligible past crimes. We’re here to offer you a fresh start with fast, affordable, and 100% online expunction services!

To promote job and career transparency, New York City employers will soon be required to include minimum and maximum salaries on all job postings for positions performed within the city. The law was passed on January 15, 2022, and will go into effect on May 15th. As this law goes into effect, employers must include a “good faith” salary range for all job opportunities within the city. Furthermore, misuse or neglect to have this range is considered an unlawful discriminatory practice under NYC’s Human Rights Law.

Employers and recruiters should prepare for this change by reviewing their processes, templates, and postings for both internal and external job listings (including promotions and transfers). Additionally, some employers may wish to revisit their compensation determination procedure to guarantee equal pay in the event of a claim.

New York City citizens hope this change will encourage those hesitant to join the workforce into action as it allows for a more upfront and fair process. This law empowers the workforce by sanctioning the rights of the employee and inspiring those unemployed into a more transparent hiring process. As many face the daunting process of employment, this law ensures all employees are compensated equally for their skills. The enactment of this law will hopefully promote employees into jobs and careers that work for them and their needs- no fine print or last-minute changes.

Employer transparency is a human right that should be guaranteed to all. Easy Expunctions ensures that you are not discriminated against based on your criminal history, helping you on your journey forward. At EE, we make the process of expunging your criminal record simple and affordable. We believe everyone has a right to work. Visit EasyExpunctions.com or call (866) 775-9983 to plan your second chance!

The Utah Clean Slate Law now offers a fresh start for thousands of people with criminal records. The law, which took effect on February 10th, 2022, automatically expunges the eligible records. Often those with criminal records find themselves caught in a vicious cycle of unemployment. Closed doors can lead to recidivism, which keeps people trapped in the criminal justice system. The Clean State Law seeks to help rehabilitate, decrease recurring crime, and empower the workforce.

The Clean Slate Law comes as a reaction to the significantly low number of eligible people actually getting through the expunction process on their own. The process of expunction is notoriously tedious and expensive. As it takes effect in Utah, advocates for the law hope to empower and inspire those with criminal records. With little publicity spread about such a monumental event, some worry that those eligible will not be made aware of the change, continuing to live with the burden of their past. Efforts are being made to spread the word, and the courts have been working for years to ensure the process of automatic expunction is smooth for both parties.

The stipulations of the Utah Clean Slate Law require that the person must have remained crime-free for five to seven years and will clear most class A, B, and C misdemeanors. If the person is on good terms with the court, having fulfilled all fines and fees, their records will be expunged by the government. These requirements ensure that those who have paid their price are no longer subject to suffering, alienation, and rejection from employers, housing, loans, and more. Although the law took effect on February 10th, expunctions will be completed in batches.

Easy Expunctions offers an affordable and accessible record-clearing option, offering a painless experience on your road to recovery. Choose a second chance with our record-clearing expertise. To discover your eligibility, sign up for a free background report from EasyExpunctions.com or call (866) 775-9983.

Those with criminal records have notoriously found the expunction process incredibly tedious and expensive. Recently, Montana Courts reported that only a small percentage of those with marijuana-related convictions are applying for an expunction. This is likely caused by a combination of the complicated expunction process and the current status of marijuana as a substance legal for recreational use.

Although certain actions, such as possession of marijuana, were made legal in November of 2020, those convicted before legalization still suffer the consequences of their criminal records. Many were left without the means or knowledge of how to expunge these records. Court officials are in the process of drafting forms that will help enable those trapped by their past along their journey towards expunction.

Expunctions are a necessary process for many of those with criminal records looking to start a career, rejoin the workforce, apply for housing, or get loans—as it enables them to pass background checks without the fear of denial for petty crimes. Those typically eligible are people who are right in the eyes of the courts, those who have paid all fines and fees, and those who have rectified their wrongs. In the case of Montana, these are typically persons whose criminal records include crimes that are no longer illegal.

Expunctions support the rehabilitation of those with criminal records, helping them back onto their feet and increasing their chances of finding careers that suit their skills and interests. Furthermore, getting an expunction can be the difference between finding safe housing and slipping into the cycle of homelessness. In short, the expunction process is crucial for creating a healthier community.

You can find out if you are eligible for an expunction without the costs and confusion at Easy Expunctions. At EE we thrive on offering you the opportunity of a second chance, because we understand the hardships imposed on those with criminal records. Take a step in the right direction by visiting EasyExpunctions.com or calling (866) 775-9983!

After months of debate between legislators, Rhode Island governor Dan Mckee announced a budget plan to legalize adult-use cannabis and provide an automatic expunction process for cannabis-related charges in the state.

Under the proposed plan, Rhode Islanders 21 and older will be able to purchase and possess up to an ounce of cannabis. The plan also allows legible adults to keep up to five ounces of cannabis in secured storage in their primary residence, as long as they don’t plan to grow it themselves. Home-grown cannabis remains illegal in the state, as the marijuana market rakes in millions of dollars that, if allocated correctly, could significantly improve the state’s economy. Gov. Mckee’s marijuana tax proposal is summarized below:

“The governor recommends creating a strictly regulated legal market for adult-use cannabis in the state…this proposal would create a weight-based excise tax on marijuana cultivation, an additional retail excise tax of 10 percent, and also apply sales tax to cannabis transactions.”

Although the plan compartmentalizes marijuana legalization into monetary benefits, legalization will lead to far more wins in other realms of society, including health benefits, a large reduction of cannabis-related convictions in the state, and it will decrease the risk of law enforcement disproportionately incarcerating Rhode Islanders living in Black and Brown communities. Another important aspect of McKee’s proposed budget is the plan to automatically expunge cannabis-related charges from an individual’s criminal record. Not only would this open up a new world of opportunities for deserving Rhode Islanders, shifting qualifications based on background history to a person’s skill set would also allow for a greater talent pool in the workforce, ultimately improving work quality within the state. Rep. Karen Alzate (D) defends Rhode Island’s plead for legalization in a recent statement:

“We can’t reverse the harm of the war on drugs, but we can start to repair it by passing automatic expungement and waiving all related fines, fees and court debt…this bold legalization plan offers us the chance to turn a new leaf for the Ocean State, and it’s time we take it.”

If a previous conviction is holding you back from a world of opportunities, it’s time to put the power back into your own hands. Easy Expunctions offers a lawyer-free record-clearing process at an affordable price… because we believe you deserve a second chance. Visit our website at EasyExpunctions.com or give us a call at (866) 775-9983 to learn more about our expunction packages.

The “ban the box” movement is a second chance for hundreds of applicants for employment, allowing those with criminal histories the opportunity to live up to their potential. Harris County, Texas, is the latest to apply this to government jobs. “Ban the box” is aligned with the Fair Chance policy, which was passed in a 3-2 vote by the Harris County Commissioners Court. The Fair Chance policy seeks to amend the notorious section on many applications requiring the applicant to answer whether or not they have been convicted of a crime.

This change will allow those with criminal histories the opportunity to receive a fair evaluation of their skills, preventing discrimination before the hiring process has even begun. Although applicants will still be required to pass a background check for employment for Harris County government jobs, this must now follow a conditional job offer. With some of the highest incarceration rates in the country, Texas government officials are looking for ways to prevent recidivism (the tendency for reoffending). County Attorney Christian Menefee noted the following:

“There are millions of parents throughout this country who have been caught up in the criminal justice system and who are being either unemployed, underemployed or forced out of the workforce.”

The tendency for skilled workers who have criminal offenses in their past to be excluded from opportunities in careers equal to their skills only further perpetuates the stigma surrounding those with criminal histories, and often prevents those workers from getting back on their feet.

Passing the Fair Chance policy for Harris County government jobs is monumental for those looking for a more equitable career application process, as it levels the playing field and focuses the scope of applications to a person’s current skills, instead of their past. Furthermore, it helps those with criminal histories find career paths in the Texas government that were previously closed off from them, expanding the workforce and creating a safer and kinder environment for those who need it most.

At Easy Expunctions, we believe in a fair chance for all. If you or someone you know has felt trapped by the current system of job applications in a circle of rejection and denial due to criminal history, choose EE for a quick, affordable, and painless record-clearing process. For the opportunity to start fresh, visit EasyExpunctions.com or call (866) 775-9983.

Colorado has long been at the forefront of marijuana decriminalization within the United States. And now, they’ve taken yet another step towards the future as Governor Jared Polis announced that he granted an additional 1,351 pardons for convictions of possession.

The pardons come alongside a new law that increased the possession limit. The new two-ounce limit law was signed in May, during which time Gov. Polis instructed law enforcement to identify people with prior convictions who are now eligible for relief. In a press release, he noted the following:

“Adults can legally possess marijuana in Colorado, just as they can beer or wine. It’s unfair that 1,351 additional Coloradans had permanent blemishes on their record that interfered with employment, credit, and gun ownership, but today we have fixed that by pardoning their possession of small amounts of marijuana that occurred during the failed prohibition era.”

Gov. Polis is doing proactive work with the pardons—merely being eligible for expunctions isn’t always enough, as many people don’t have the time or means to apply and go forward with the expunction process. By pardoning these convictions, he has removed a real barrier for 1,351 people who will now have one less obstacle in their way when applying for work or housing.

If you’re tired of disclosing your marijuana arrest or conviction, reach out to the friendly professionals at Easy Expunctions. If your record doesn’t need to be there, we can wipe it from court records for far less cost than a traditional lawyer. Call us today to get started towards your new start with a clean criminal history: (877) 890-5081

The state of Philadelphia rang in the year with a new, much-needed policy: city employers are no longer allowed to force prospective employees to submit a drug test for marijuana. Not only will this improve the talent pool, but it will give deserving citizens a fair chance at pursuing their life of choice.

As more and more states legalize marijuana, it’s harder to justify any reasoning behind required drug tests for marijuana. In legal states, cannabis should be placed in the same category as alcohol. Yet, people are frequently automatically disqualified from potential jobs due to a personal decision to use the substance recreationally. Now, cannabis users of Philadelphia can feel at ease knowing it won’t cost them their future.

The law excludes certain professions such as law enforcement positions, commercial driving positions, and any job that poses a significant impact on the health and safety of others, including positions that work with children, medical patients, and other vulnerable individuals. If marijuana-use outside of work doesn’t directly impact the safety of others, Philadelphians are legally allowed to keep their decisions involving cannabis private.

If you’re living with a cannabis charge on your criminal record, our record-clearing experts at Easy Expunctions are here to help. For more information about a lawyer-free expunction process, give us a call at (866) 775-9983 or visit our website at EasyExpunctions.com.